Brady Quinn Doesn’t See The High Risk In Starting Kizer

The Cleveland Browns drafted DeShone Kizer in the second round of the NFL Draft in April, presumably to be the future franchise quarterback. Whether Kizer gets playing time as a rookie, however, remains to be seen, especially with Brock Osweiler and Cody Kessler on the roster.

“That all depends upon the ownership and how much patience they have,” former Browns quarterback and current CBSSports.com NFL analyst Brady Quinn said on CBS Sports Radio’s The DA Show. “It all comes down to that: How much patience does the Browns ownership have in the coaching staff, in this process that they really signed up for a couple of years ago? I think they’ve got a lot of young talent. It’s just going to take a while before I think the Browns can make the strides that ownership’s hoping to see, (that) fans are hoping to see, and everyone else out there (is hoping to see).”

Still, wouldn’t it be risky to start Kizer as a rookie? Especially since his college coach, Brian Kelly, said the 21-year-old wasn’t ready to play in the NFL?

“I don’t know if it’s too big of a risk because of the additions they made in the offseason,” Quinn said, citing offensive linemen Kevin Zeitler and JC Tretter. “Look at what they were able to do defensively, drafting a guy like Myles Garrett, getting Julius Peppers – players who I think will have a pretty big impact on the defense and help them improve from last year. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, I think, will be much more aggressive.

“So all those things lead me to say this,” Quinn continued. “I think the Browns are probably better-prepared to take a rookie quarterback now than maybe they’ve been in a long time, if ever, since they came back in 1999. If DeShone Kizer proves (he has) the ability throughout the preseason and the rest of training camp to be the starting quarterback, if he continues to progress like he has, I don’t see as much risk starting him in Week 1. I think you have to see what you have in him before you contemplate going back into the draft or back into free agency to find a quarterback. You got to find out what you have on your roster first.”

The Browns open the season at home against Pittsburgh on Sept. 10 before taking on the Ravens in Baltimore on Sept. 17. Both games kick off at 1 p.m. ET.